Chase the Accuracy… that Actually Matters
It can be so easy to chase accuracy. After all, you reason, isn’t that the mark of a good artist? That she can make it look just like the thing she’s painting?
But not every subject needs that kind of precision.
Sure, some demand it, but others don’t.
Artist Peggi Habets (Ep.4) reminds us that in portraiture, two things matter most—and they might not be what you expect…
First, drawing.
Even the smallest shift in eye placement can turn a portrait from someone you know into someone you don’t. That’s how precise drawing can be.
Second, value.
How light and dark move across a face tells the story of the bone structure underneath. It’s what gives a portrait its form, depth, and presence.
But here’s the thing: that level of precision is specific to portraiture. After all, it’s the most demanding of subjects when it comes to accuracy. But not every subject needs that same microscope-level attention.
When Close Enough Is Enough
In landscapes and still life, it’s less about exact likeness and more about the relationship between shapes and values.
Get the big value shapes and silhouettes right, and your subject will read correctly.
If your flowers have the right overall shapes and values, they’ll read as flowers. And that’s true even if you couldn’t name the species. That’s not a failure; it’s freedom. You might be surprised how much wiggle room you have before something stops reading as what it’s meant to be.
In a landscape, think in terms of size relationships and value hierarchy.
Make the tree smaller than the mountain but larger than the deer, and it will feel believable. It doesn’t even need to match the exact tree in your reference. It just has to be “tree-ish” enough.
Because the truth is: often, close enough is all you need.
A Quick Note on Color
Color is the least important piece of the puzzle—even in portraiture.
If your drawing and values are accurate, you could make your cousin hot pink and they’d still look like your cousin. That’s the power of value and structure over hue.
Reframing Accuracy
Where we often get stuck is thinking our painting must look exactly like the reference. That’s photorealism and it’s a wonderful style IF that’s your goal.
But if you’re aiming to paint more loosely, it’s worth asking: how much information do you actually need for your subject to read as your subject?
Accuracy does matter. The trick is learning where it matters for the kind of painter you want to be… and where it doesn’t.
And honestly that’s good news. Because getting accuracy takes focus, energy, and TIME. And so if you can get clear on when and where you need it (and don’t need it) you can save yourself all three.
Put it to Practice
So the next time you pick up a brush to paint, pause for a minute. Look at your subject and decide where you need to put your focus.
In portraiture, slow down and double-check your drawing and values.
In landscapes or still life, focus on the big shapes and relative values.
Ask yourself: What’s essential for this subject to read? What can I simplify or let go of?
Loosen your grip on perfection. You might find that close enough gets you exactly where you want to go.
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